JOHN PHELAN’S column (Echo, July 11) got me scurrying to read my 1962 diary when he referred to former England and Derbyshire pace bowler Mike Hendrick.

My entry in the diary stated that on July 23, 1962 Haughton Secondary played our cricket match against St Mary’s and in beating them won the town’s cricket shield that year.

I was a member of the Haughton team and from memory I am sure Mike was in the St Mary’s team. His reputation even then went before him and I’m sure the Haughton team spent a worrying school day with the thought of facing up to the St Mary’s bowler.

Regretfully my diary doesn’t give any information as to how I performed in the game but I was captain of the Haughton team.

I did go on to play many times with Mike for Darlington thirds before he went on to greater things.

I still have the school photograph of the Haughton team.

Mike Taylor, Darlington